Terminal connector.



TERMINAL CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION man AuG.5.1913. RENEWED MAY 19.1915.

LWN@ Patented July 11, 1911s.

i RY A. DOUGLAS, OF .'BRONSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIIR. TO DOUGLAS &,RUDD MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, F BRONSON, MICHIGAN', A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

TERMINAL CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11,1918.

Application led August 5, 1913, Serial No. 783,159. Renewed May 19, 1916. Serial No. 98,680.

I To all .whom it may concern:

lBe it known that 1, HARRY DOUGLAS,

citizen of the United States, residing at `Bronson,vin the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a certainA new and useful Improvement in Terminal Connectors, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, referi ence being had to the accompanying drawl translating devices.

ings, forming a part of this specication.

My invention relates to terminal connectors usefulin coupling sections of flexible connectors for conveying current to translating devices, such as electric lamps, though the invention is not to be limited to the interpositionof Hexible conductors between the terminal connectors and the rllhe invention has for its general object the provision of a terminal connector whose parts are of simple construction readily assembled and disassembled and by which firm electrical connection is effected between conducting wires and the parts that are to be included in circuit therewith.

l will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in'which-` Figure 1 is a view Aor the plug and socket portions of the connector in separated relation and in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a view of these partsin the same relation,

partially in section and partially in plan butI taken in a direction at right angles to that in which Fig. 1 is taken; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. y

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different gures. y

ln the drawing the invention is shown as being embodied in a wire terminal connector located between portions of a HeXible conductor, though it is obvious that the termnal connector may be otherwise located, the invention not being limited to the interposition of the flexible conductor `between the translating device and the terminal connector of my invention which is to'furnish current to the translating device. The con nector illustrated also includes plug and socket portionseach having 'structural features embracedV in my invention but the invention i'snot to be limited to a connector in which both the plug and socket portions have the novel characteristics, the invention b eing embraceable within either such portion. 'llhe socket illustrated also includes structural characteristics which are set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 776,217, filed June 28, 1913.

The plug terminal connector shown includes a metal plug 1 provided with an axial recess 2 formed in accordance with the invention disclosed in my co-pending applisupplemented by a metallic'sheath 5 that is inturned at the left hand end of the sleeve 3 and at its other end is threaded there to have threaded engagement with a metal sleeve 6. rllhis latter metal sleeve hasan internal shoulder 7 for butt engagement with a sleeve 8 preferably in the form of insulating material. A sleeve 9 is located within the bore of the sleeve 8, this sleeve 9 being received within a cylindrical enlargement of the bore of the sleeve 8 so that the latter sleeve may have butt engagement with the former.

The metal plug 1 includes an inner percov forated stem 10 throughthe perforation 101 y of which an end portion of a circuit conducting wire 11 is passed so that the `extreme end portion of this wire will lie upon one side of the stem and a continuing portion of `ing means in threaded connection with the plug 1.

The invention being shown 1n the form of a coupler for joining portions of the flexible vso conductor, the contact 12 complemental to the contact 1 (and here shown as being constructed in accordance with my co-pending application Serial No. 7 76,217, filed June 28, 1913) is inclosed by a shell 13 and is mounted upon a sleeve 14 of insulating material tightly received within the shell 13. The 'contact 12 is pressed forwardly by a coiled spring 15 bottomed in a metallic sleeve 16, current being carried throughthe sleeve 16 and the spring' 15 to the terminal contact 12. The metal shell 13 projects from the insulating sleeve 14 and is provided with bayonet slots 17 which are adapted to receive bayonet pins 18 carried by the adjacent end 'of the insulating sleeve 3. When the pins 18 are home inthe slots 17 the metal plug 1 presses the terminal 12 inwardly against the force of the spring 15, whereupon the circuit is completed, the lconnector shown being a single pole connector, though it is obvious that the invention is not to be limited to this single pole device.

The metal sleeve or spring barrel 16 has a smooth cylindrical portion which projects end'wise into the insulating sleeve 14, this cylindrical portion of the-sleeve 16 having a circular outsetting flange 171 in buttengagement with the adjacent end of the sleeve 14. The sleeve or shell 13 is provided with an internal ange 19 having butt en-A gagement with the right hand end of the sleeve -14. The rear end of the sleeve 13 has threaded engagement with the metal sleeve 20. This latter metal sleeve has an internal shoulder 21 for butt engagement with va sleeve 22 preferably of insulating material. A sleeve 23 is located within the bore of the sleeve 22, this sleeve 23 being received withina cylindrical portion of the bore of the sleeve 22 so that the latter sleeve may have butt engagement with the former.

The metal sleeve 16 is provided' with an inner perforated stem 24 through the perforations 241 of which an end portion of a circuit conducting wire 25 is passed so that the extreme end portion of this wire'will lie upon one side of the stem and a continuing portion of this wire will lie upon the other side of the stem. The bore of the sleeve 23 is of a diameter suiciently small to engage the wire 25 upon both sides of the bore 24 with suiicient frictional pressure to occasion very firm electrical contact of the wire 25 with the 'stem-24 and the sleeve 23 whereby the wire 25 is brought into and maintained in firm electrical connection with the sleeve 16 without the aid of solder or screw clamping means in threaded connection with the sleeve 16. l

In the case of both the plug and socket, where the elements 9 and 23 are made of metal, an electrical connection between the wires and the conducting portions 1 and 16 is further insured by the engagement of the anges 4 and 171 respectively with the sleeves 9 and 23.

It will be observed that the parts are of simple construction and readily assembled without impairing the desired thorough electrical connection. The parts are also very readily separated for the purpose of repair and replacement. 'Reference may be had to my co-pendin `applications as follows:

.Serial No` 713,31 ,x filed August 5, 1912, Se rial No. 714,207,1iled August 9, 1912, and- Serial No. 776,217, led 'June 28, 1913.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but

Having thus described my invention I claim as new an'd desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A terminal connector including a flanged portion through which circuit is to be extended, which portion includes an aper- 4tured stem; a conducting wire having an end projected through the aperture of said stem so as to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides of the-stem; a sleeve, which is of insulating material, having a bore in which said portion may slide and shaped to engage the flange of said flanged portion to limit the extent of relative movement of the sleeve and anged portion; a metal sheath for said sleeve of insulating material; a second sleeve for engaging the flange; and a'clamping device in threaded engagement with said sheath and operating upon the second sleeve to force it'into engagement with said flange.

2. A terminal connector including a A flanged portion through which circuit 1s to be extended, which portion includes an apervtured stem; a conducting wire having an end projected through the aperture of said stem so as to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides of the stem; a sleeve having a bore in which said portion may slide and shaped to engage the iange of saidflanged portion to limit the extent of relative movement of the" sleeve and flanged portion; a second sleeve,

3. A terminal connector including a iaeouea vio extent oi relative movement ot the sleeve d ilanged portion; a metal sheath tor said sleeve of insulating material, a second sleeve, which is ot. metal, for enga t the dange; a ,clamping device in threaded' enment 15 with said sheath and operat upon the second sleeve to torce it intoengagement with said Hange; and a sleeve ot insulating material interposed between said metal sleeve and the clamping means tough which interposed sleeve the clamping means o erates to press the metal sleeve against the ange.

Lt. d te 1 uw al connector including a i portion through which circuit is to he extended, which portion includes 'an apa projected thi-@egt the aperture or sin so as to have parts thereof lie Aupon opposite sides et the stem; a sleeve having a here in which said portion may slide d- "w shaped to ya ge the Hange ot said tlaed n ge thek stern; a conducting wire having an portion to' limit the e t t ot relative movement of the sleeve and anged portion; a' second sleeve for enga the iHlange; and a clamping device co-acting With the rst sleeve to force the second sleeve into engaget5 ment with said dange.

5. A tel connector inclu "u a Hanged portion through which circuit is to be extended, which portion includes an apertured stem; a conducting ha an end tu projected through the aperture et said stem so as to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides of the stem; a sleeve having a here in which said portion may slide and shaped to engage the Bange ot said flanged portion to td limit the extent et relative movement of the sleeve and flanged portion; a' second sleeve tor engaging the Hange; and a clamping device co-acting with the hrst sleeve to torce the second sleeve-into engagement with said M flan e, the bore ot one ot said sleeves receiving thewire and stem and being of such diameter as to engage the wire and maintain it in firm electrical connection with the stem.

ln witness'vvhereot, l hereunto subscribe 55 my mme this 30th day or July, n.10. i913.

t i'JRY A. DOUGLAS. 

